“We’re very pleased that the city government...

“We’re very pleased that the city government finally listened to the

people, because dumping all that stuff on our beach would have been a

tragedy.”

-- Dave Johnson, who owns a beachfront home in West Newport, on

the start of sand dredging in the Santa Ana River. Residents

successfully lobbied against initial Army Corps of Engineers plans to

dump the dredged material on West Newport’s beach. It now will be

pumped offshore.

“They both made it clear that homeland security is our No. 1

national security priority in the 21st century. The department will

succeed or fail in its mission largely as a function of the way

Congress fulfills its responsibility.”

-- Chris Cox, Newport Beach’s congressman, who last week resigned

his House leadership position to chair the committee overseeing

homeland security.

“It is the most important building we have in the church. It’s the

greatest project. I like to work on a temple more than any other kind

of building.”

-- Vern Forbush, project superintendent for Jacobsen Construction,

which is working on the Mormon temple being built in Newport Beach.

Forbush is also a church member, and the Newport Beach temple is the

fourth one he’s built.

“Why would a rabbit represent alertness? If a rabbit isn’t alert,

it’ll serve as a meal for somebody else. So we must be alert.”

-- John Wooden, famed UCLA basketball coach, speaking to 700

Mariners Elementary School students last week.

“We’re all fired up. It’s great to have that [national

championship], especially to hold over little Bruins’ heads.”

-- Dylan Gormly, Newport Beach resident and 2002 grad of USC,

basking in the school’s football championship.

“It’s a stronghold for alumni and supporters and USC activities.

It’s a great place to live. Most Trojans are pretty successful and

can live wherever they want. And they want to live here. They’re not

dumb.”

-- Paul Salata, former USC and NFL football player and founder of

Irrelevant Week, on Newport-Mesa and why there were so many fired up

USC fans celebrating here last week.

“We think it’s the biggest lease deal in the history of the

county, because no one we know can recall one that was bigger.”

-- Bill Halford, the Irvine Co.’s president of office properties,

on a deal that will have Broadcom Corp., an Irvine-based high-tech

firm, lease eight buildings set to go up near UC Irvine.